"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Roosevelt Economics, Reagan Education Policy

When Presidents require an easy outlet for taking some names and kicking some ass, they know the schools, the kids, and the teachers are always waiting to get beat up.

The President reminded us tonight that we are going to offer hundreds of billions more to bail out the banks AGAIN, but if the overpaid and lazy teachers expect a raise, they are going to have to prove they can wring out higher test scores for a couple of thousand dollars a year. And as the President reminds us, "from the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age," we are now ready to sacrifice that system for a ragged collection of cheap corporate charter schools without public governance.

Will national school walkouts be required to save public educations? Arne Duncan picketed at every public appearance? Refusal to give tests? Parents keeping their kids home on test days? It is clear that the President is listening to his Secretary, and we know he is listening to people who never listen. Drastic measures will no doubt be required.